Electrical terminal strip and electrical terminal assembly



Dec. 28, 1954 H. J. MODREY EIAL 2,698,423

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL STRIP AND ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheetl IN VEN TORS Dec. 28, 1954 H. J. MODREY ETAL 2,698,423

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL STRIP AND ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. J. MODREY El AL Dec. 28, 1954 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL STRIP AND ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1952 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 u FAAMUJW r United States Patetrtf) ELECTRICAL:TERMHNAUSTRIBANDEEEG mean Henry JiModw ,Nanazstaimter is n rl nlgw Westport, Conn., assighors to Interlock Corporation,--- New:ork;,N'.--YW.

Ap ncsudntMarcn'as,%19523'snarNti:277336 5C!" s emmin Tfiislinrention relatestto seamlterminal stripsnforestablishing onewn IIIIOI'CEQICGUiB-QOGBCCfiOHSa- Terminal 'strips,'as hitherto known ar'e -generallymin f rm vtiara Astraighttrigid, strip madei' of "plastio or other insulation material whiehicarriesuone p1: more terminals of the; screw, soldenaoracrimp typet Intusee-electriewires are connected to tonal-side ofothe'aterminalwand furthr connectionszare made frbm. the-other side 'of-the termina-lw Strips .of ,this ..type arehsupplied as :units carrying the 1 desired vnumber zof terminalsa.or asestripsfiof standard length whichaaretcut: invaaccordance with the required fi numbenofvterminalsn; V

The rigidityr. :of conventional-t straight 'terr'ninalg stripsimposes inconvenient limitations upon me -usefulnesso terminal Strips as hithertoiknownas; v

One of theuobjec ts ofat'he'r-priesent inventiori -is to pro 0 vide. a novelnand improved gterminal 1 strip which can be-a-a easily? bnttbefore and.\duringainstallation an'd whio substantially retains r.:r..pr t :ser; -any contour or shape in iwhi'chflitmay;be bent..rlhis-property of the 's-trip s hereinafter sometimesirreferredwtosas: ffor'm preserwifi The pliabilitygorflexibility and: the form-preservin propertybfrterminalzstripsg accordingeto the inventiori-per mit shapingi-andlbendingiof the-tstriips in conformity 'Wi the layoutlof a specific installationas -will be-"more fully v explaindheieinaften a Thisi afiorda among-@othersw-thwimportantnadvantagegthae. thenconfiguratiorr :of the strip a and hence the location:offithe-terminalswah be eas'il :1 adapted ;to rthesspecificqrequirements of -the 'installatidn' in whichthel.strips arezusetla ev Another, objectiof the. invention-is to proyide= a termirial strip whichscan .'be manuacturedoin fomi of-a 1 strip of practically'unlimited length- This afiords the :advantag thatthe;strips ganabeirstored'i form-ofrcoilsfrornwvhic a lengthpof sthegistripst-includmgiranyfldesired 'n'urnber of terminals is; .cut-..otf torsotherwiseeseparatedt *As :will be apparent; strips of "this TIYPQEIL be commonie i'itly' a'ndin expensivelysmanufactured andetoredt: v

Anotherrobject of rthezinv'ention-v-i's to provide movel*and"-" improyedsmeansslayylhich theiistriph terminals han be clearly and durably marked. This is of particular im-' p l neeain-"connectionzwithsmulti iwirer installat ior'is andcan sesziconsiderable idifiisnlt-iesrawithueonventional strips; Anothen-zobjectsofathe invention salliedawith thmpre ceding ones;;is to provide :a vnovel= antl improvd brac'k'e or suppqrtatQwhich-bnesor morewterminal strip's accord ingH- p the invention scanzibe safelymand -convenientl fastened. in diiferent-ipositionstianduwhich n turn cambe easily and securelyt'fastenedato ra base;

Other,andsfurthen'objectsgfeatures and advantageseof the invention wilhbepointedmnt hereinafteraiid set forth in th3aPP l1 Bd claims fornEi-ing-part ot =the: applieation In lTthei'iacctnnpanying:- rdrawing -several now: p'refe'rrecl embodimentstoftthe.inventiongreishowmby wayof illu'stration; andan o'tibylway of; limitation.

In T theildrawingsz tar F1g., a ta;fragrnentaryaplamhiiewaof a: terminal stripaccordngqto rthe.. ::invent1on,\iverticailytrnounted on -a brackenaccordinglto,thehinventiomxz:

Figljlis'ahplar iew aupon-ahe opposite sitie of a strip 27:

accordin to Fight, p

' 'asection.taken onilinefis -ofFigpl z is "a sectional-trsideayiew of a connector plu'g I ,forf'usei in. .connection sviththe-terminals of 1 the 1 Wi sthe blus ofzrigwta a s0 2 Fig. 6"is'anoth'er vi'ewof the ft'erminal of Fig contactscrewssuitable to be'fittedin the term n Fig; 7 is' a'terminalof'Figl'idcornpletely wiredi H v FigL-S shows thterminalbfFigtS with termiiiziftails' at bothsides." V Fig. I 9 :is {:a :se'ctionaF-view of a"'mo'dificatiozi"'bf the terminal-of-Fig.-=3. r p 1 Fig.3-10 is afragmentary-pla'nyiew ofa terminals accordingz tothe-invention"'horizontally"mtjiinted 'on' a bracket' 'accordingto thednventiom' a 7 Fig. -l1.- isan elevationa'l side'viewof' "braek acc o'r ingto the-"inventioncarrying two *terrni'ri' strips one" in horizontahposition and" the other 'in verti l'posi Fig. :12"is-a fragmentary planvie'w ofa terminal according to. the tinventidn'dirctlyi screwed to a ane Fig- 13 isia 'side View of "Fig. 12', partlyin section? I Fig. :14 is-a perspective' iew'ofan installatibn infivh' acircularterminal strip according tojjthefinyntion employedzto connect a centrally 'enter'ed rhulti wire cable.

Figr-15"iS a diagrammatic iplan view'of a"telvlision chassis wired "with a form" fitting tefminal" strip accord ing:to-ither'inyention; t l v a A Fig; 16 is a perspectiveiyiew of a; turret fframesn po' ing a plurality of'terminal'jstrips accordingto theinve tion employed 'to gconnec't a'rnulti-wirecable Fig.=17 is'a fragmentaryperspectiveView of airr'di cation of a terminal strip *accordin'gtothe' invention Fig. tats-a plan'view of Fig? 1 7. I Figw19 is-a fragmentaryxplan' vieWiof a modification of the-stripr-according'to FigSZil7"a11jd"T8, and i;-

Fig;-20'is =a fragmentarypla'niview of a fnrtherino'difi Referring first to Figsr'il,v 2 and'3' indeta ithe'fterr'n nalstrip according to these"figures" comp'r is'es Eve paratively narrow'pliablefirfiexibltsheet niet" trip 1 1 which may have' any desired "length-and? which mayfhe visualized as a-continuousistrip suitable torshippin and storing in" form-'ofrcoils" before "'being cut' 'doyvn' to' the quired lengthfOITiaIl "intended"installatibnif' The sjtr maybe made of any suitable metal "which can; be co' venientlybent and has'sufli'cient'stitfness "to preserve an desired-form. Generally, aluminum is the ino'St'litef" rr'ed material but other metals such" as steel '"m'a ls'o'b'e u' in certaininstances; 1 Thestripjis formed -with closely spaced raised-or depressed Tportionsi z; The" purpose of f these indented portions-is 'to 'stilfen"the"'thiri"strip and I furtherto insure-"that'any"bending or other deforina i1 of the'strip occurs between adja'c'entfraised or depressed portions 2, that'is, betweentheterminaljcontactscarried by thestrip, A hole 4 is-proyidedthrot'lgh eachs't'rip po tion-2.- "The'punching'of these holesand'the forma '"n of the indented portion2 can" be conveniently carried 0 in one operation during"the mantrfacttireof the strip; The -holes 4 s'erverto receivethe"strip terminalsf The" terminals are shown'as comprising an insulationfeyelet 5 which may-"be formed by rtwo complementary sect'ior'isfS and 6 whichare 'fitted'to therespective strippQrtitJn' Zj frorn'both sides" of the strip and areso dimension'ed"that' they ove'rlaysomewhatthe" diameter 7 ,of the" respecfiy strip hole 4 as can best be seen on Fig.3.; Any; suitable V insulation material'can 'be employedibreyeletsS', '6;" "It hasbeen found. that insulation "material now "known as" nylon is highly'suitable. p v

The terminal proper is formedbya metal sle'eve'or eye-"f let 3 the "end flanges 3a vand 3bof which overlay the respectiveend faces of theeyelet sections5 and 6"the'r'el5y securing eyelet 8 within the? "insulatiomeyelet" and also joining the: two sections" of; the: insulation eyelet together and togrthebase strips-=Eyelet=3 isiinsertedfivith 'n'e'o' its flanges alreadyturned over.v Thewthe'r fla punchedor spunoveri As will 'be apparent; this completes the terminal:- While for'sake'of simp' illustration terminals 'with a; single icontact' are sho it"? will be evident 'that-"terminals'with' more'than one ten; t I can be mounted on theflexible basestrip'; Thefte m" terminal, as used herein;is' therefore" intended" t'o'in clud terminalswith one or iriorecbntacts.

The electric connections to and from the terminals cififf" be made-by variolis'means suitable "for the p'iirpo's" 'ither" on opposite sides of theterminalsjorodwe'sam According'to Fig.3; 'one'of the connections istn'a de means of a soldering tail or lug 7 which may form part of the eyelet flange 3b or is secured thereto. The second connection may be made by using contact eyelet 3 as the receiving pole element of a connector outlet. The connector plug coacting with the outlet formed by the terminal may be of conventional design but when the terminal strip is used in installations in which a high contact quality is required and/or in which the terminal strip is or may be subjected to vibration, it is advantageous to use as connector plug a self-locking plug of the kind fully described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 173,733 filed on July 7, 1950, and shown in Fig. 4 of the present application in somewhat diagrammatic form. The connector plug according to Fig. 4 comprises a clamping rod 8 made of a strong wire and forming on one end an enlarged clamping head 9 by bending the rod back upon itself. The other end of the clamping rod is fastened to a contact sleeve 15 in which is inserted the bared end 17 of a wire 16. The wire end may be secured in sleeve 15 by any suitable means such as soldering or crimping. Rod 8 is slidably guided in a casing 10 the front end 11 of which is reduced in diameter and closed by an end wall. Clamping head 9 is biased by a spring against the end wall of easing portion 11 and overhangs the same one-sidedly or eccentrically. An outwardly turned flange 12 of casing 10 serves as a grip for withdrawing casing 10 relative to the clamping rod 8 and contact sleeve 15 thereby causing the clamping head and the part of rod 8 just below the clamping head to protrude from casing portion 11 for a purpose which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

To make the terminal of Fig. 3, more specifically the contact eyelet 3, suitable for coaction with the plug of Fig. 4, the inner cross-section of eyelet 3 must be so selected in relation to the cross-sectional configuration of clamping head 9 and also of easing portion 11 that both the clamping head and easing portion 11 are positively guided by eyelet 3 when inserted in the same. In practice, eyelet 3 may be cylindrical and easing portion 11 may also he cylindrical so that the outer diameter of easing portion 11 just fits the inner diameter of eyelet 3. The clamping head may have a round or a flat crosssection in which latter case the transverse width of the clamping head should substantially match the inner diameter of eyelet 3. A further requirement is that the axial length of easing portion 11 is somewhat shorter than the axial length of sleeve or eyelet 3.

When it is desired to apply the plug to the terminal outlet the operator grips sleeve 15 and after inserting the clamping head in eyelet 3 pushes the plug toward the out let or jack. As a result, casing 10 is forced back relative to the clamping rod by the pressure of the end wall of easing portion 11 against eyelet flange 3a thereby further loading spring 13. Consequently, clamping head 9 penetrates deeper into eyelet 3 thereby making space available for easing portion 11 which finally seats itself in eyelet 3 when clamping head 9 has passed completely through the eyelet and abuts with its overhanging portion against flange 3b. The final position of the plug is shown on Fig. 5. By reason of easing portion 11 having a shorter axial length than eyelet 3, the clamping head 9 is held protruding from casing portion 11 by the difference between the axial length of eyelet 3 and casing portion 11 so that head 9 is pressed against flange 312 by the loading of spring 13. As will be apparent, a pressure contact is made between the end of clamping head 9 abutting against flange 3b and also between flange 3a and the shoulder formed between casing portion 11 and the wider portion of the casing. Extensive tests have shown that these pressure contacts constitute a connection of extremely low and constant resistance value. The resistance value remains practically unchanged even under vibration since a reduction of the contact pressure between the clamping headand flange 3b by the effect of vibration is automatically compensated by a corresponding increase of the contact pressure between the shoulder of the casing and eyelet flange. 3a. There is or may also be contact between the wall of easing portion 11 and the inner wall of eyelet 3 but this contact, being a sliding contact, is of uncertain value and may be disregarded in installations such as e1ectronic installations in which high quality contact is required.

Figs. 6 and 7 show an arrangement in which two wires 16 are connected by means of contact screws 20 and 21. As can best be seen onFig. 6, screw 21 has an internal 4 thread which serves to receive the external thread of screw 20.

According to Fig. 8 terminal tails 7 are provided on each side of contact eyelet 3. The wires to be connected carli then be screwed, soldered or spot welded to these tai s.

It will be understood from the previous description that the illustration of the contact connections between wires and a terminal according to Fig. 3 is by no means exhaustive but that various other means of connection are conceivable with terminal strips according to the invention.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of the terminal of Fig. 3 in that the sectional insulation eyelet of Fig. 3 is replaced by a single insulation eyelet 5'. This eyelet serves to receive and is held in position by contact eyelet 3. As will be apparent, eyelet 5 is inserted with its flange 3!) bearing tail 7 already turned over. The turning of flange 3a secures the contact eyelet in eyelet 5 and also serves to expand the insulation eyelet sufficintly so as to secure the same to the base strip.

In case the strip 1 is made of aluminum, the same is preferably given an anodized finish. A steel strip is preferably lacquered with a suitable insulation lacquer. A finish of this type affords a certain amount of electrical insulation which protects against an accidental or casual contact during the installation and is also useful in protecting the material of the base strip. A further advantage is that it can be used to provide different coloring of several base strips used within one installation thereby permitting group coding of the terminal strips.

The main advantage, however, resides in providing con-' venient means for marking the terminals. In most multiwire installations, all terminals must be marked. The conventionally used small stick-on labels have the disadvantage that they become easily detached because the available surface is extremely small. With a coated metal strip, the required marking can be effected by scratching or etching the terminal denomination into the metal of the strip. As the coating is colored and the underlying metal is bright, the terminal denomination, even if very small, is distinctly readable and can never become detached or otherwise lost. For the purpose of marking the terminals, a space 18 may be providedas marking area within each raised or depressed strip portion 2 as can best be seen on Fig. l.

The terminal strip, as hereinbefore described, can be mounted on a base by various suitable means. It can be secured either directly to the base, such as a panel, or it can be supported on the base by means of one or more brackets. As previously mentioned, the design of a bracket particularly suitable for mounting terminal strips according to the invention and also in certain instances of terminal strips of a kind other than described herein constitutes part of the present invention. The terminal strip of Fig. l is mounted in vertical position on a bracket according to the invention which will now be described in connection with Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 10 shows a terminal strip of the kind described in connection with Fig. I mounted in horizontal position on a bracket according to the invention. The bracket itself can best be seen-on Fig. 11. While the bracket of Fig. 10 is shown as supporting two strips 1, one in horizontal position and the other in vertical position, it should be understood that one strip only, either in horizontal or vertical position, may be mounted on the bracket. The bracket comprises a double rightangle or double Lshapedstrip 21 made 'of any suitable material such as sheet metal. The bracket strip is provided in its vertical limb with a tapped hole 24 and in its upper horizontal limb with a second tapped hole 27. These holes serve to fasten the terminal strips 1 to the bracket by passing screws 26 through respective eyelets 3 of the terminal strips. For this purpose, holes 24 and 27 may be threaded, as shown, or a nut may be screwed upon the protruding portions of screws 26. Screws 26 are so dimensioned that they fit the eyelets 3 so that each eyelet of the terminal strip can either serve as a connection point 'or as a guide bushing for a fastening screw. This affords the important advantage that points of attachment of the terminal strips to the brackets can be selected wherever they are required. Such afree choice of the points of attachment is not available with conventional plastic terminal strips by reason of the fact that the fastening holes of such strips are molded in the plastic body and are therefore innexible as to distance. This advantage of strips and brackets according to the invention is or particular importance because the terminal strips according to the invention may be laid out in curves.

in the previous description it has been stated that a terminal strip is mounted either horizontally or verticaliy. However, it should be understood that the same strip can also be mounted partly horizontally and partly vertically by twisting the strip through an angle of 90 between two brackets.

Each bracket is secured to a base plate 19, generally a chassis, by any suitable means such as a screw 22 threaded through the lower horizontal limb of the bracket.

Figs. 12 and 13 show an arrangement in which a terminal strip 1 is directly secured to base panel 19. For this purpose, the base panel is provided with a corresponding number of holes 29 through which the soldering tags or tails 7 of the individual terminal contacts protrude, ready for wiring. A screw 28 again fitted through one of the eyelets 3 serves to secure the strip to the base 19. It is of course also possible to employ a bolt and a nut instead of the illustrated screw. Furthermore, it will be apparent that with the arrangement of Figs. 12 and 13 also, each contact eyelet 3 may either serve as electric connection point or as fastening hole.

big. 14 shows an assembly in which a terminal strip and brackets according to the invention are employed to connect the individual wires of a multi-wire cable. For this purpose, a length tterminal strip including the required number of terminal contacts is bent into a ring which is secured in vertical position to a chassis or base plate 19 by means of brackets 21 and screws 22 and 26 as has been described in connection with Fig. 11. As will be noted, the screw 26 of the right hand bracket also serves to join the overlapping ends of the strip by simply passing screw 26 through two eyelets 3 brought in registry. While two brackets are shown, it will be apparent that the actual number of brackets is selected in accordance with the requirements of the specific installation. The multi-wire cable, designated by 30, is entered through a preferably centric hole 31 in plate 19. Eacn individual wire 16 of the cable is soldered to one of the tags 7 thereby establishing the one connection with the terminals of the strip. The second connection is shown as being made by employing a self-locking plug as has been described in connection with Figs. 4 and but, of course, it is also possible to make the connections by the contact means described in connection with Figs. 6, 7 and 8 or by any other suitable means.

As will be apparent, the arrangement of Fig. 14 results in a convenient and compact distributing center made possible by the flexibility and form stability of terminal strips according to the invention and by the design of the brackets according to the invention.

Fig. 15 illustrates diagrammatically an installation in which a terminal strip as hereinbefore described is laid out to follow a rather complex contour. More specifically, the terminal strip is twisted between the various components of a television chassis 32 supporting a television tube 33. The layout of the terminal strip 1 permits to bring the individual numerous wires of the installation in close proximity to all the components of the installation.

Fig. 16 shows an installation particularly useful for the termination of telephone or other multi-wire cables and made possible by the specific features of a terminal strip according to the invention.

The installation of Fig. 16 comprises a substantially U-shaped frame 34 made of any suitable material such as steel. The frame should be visualized as being secured to a base for instance by screws passed through holes in end flanges 34' of the frame. A terminal strip 1 is wound about the frame in a progressive or spiral shaped fashion and the individual wires of cable 30 are again soldered to the tags 7 of the strip contacts. As will be noted, cable 30 enters the center of the turret formed by frame 34. The strip is fastened to the frame by means of screws 26 as has been previously described. The soldering operations can be facilitated by winding the strip around the frame 34 layer by layer as the soldering of wires 16 progresses. The outer connections can again be made by plugs according to Figs. 4 and 5. Also, any of the contact means described in connection with Figs. 6, 7 and 8 may be employed to secure the cable wires 16 to the terminals.

All the previously described exemplifications of the invention show flat base strips. However, in certain instances a greater rigidity of the strip is required than can be given to a flat strip without unduly reducing the convenient pliability of the strip. Such greater rigidity may be obtained by employing a channeled strip. Various forms of channeling can of course be employed.

Figs. 17 and 18 show a metal base strip made of aluminum or steel with a substantially U-shaped cross-section. Such strip, if made of sufficiently thin sheet metal, may again be bent or otherwise deformed so as to form desired curves and angles. However, if a greater pliabil-ity be desired than a channeled strip normally possesses, spaced slots 40 may be provided in one or both side branches of the strip and also in the bight of the strip.

A channeled strip also affords the important advantage that one or both side arms of the strip can be used to mount terminals.

Fig. 19 shows a channeled strip 1" provided with terminal-s on its bight and one of its side arms.

Fig. 20 shows a channeled strip 1" both side arms of which support terminals. In this case the terminals supported on the bight of the strip are preferably staggered.

The strip design according to Figs. 19 and 20 permits to accommodate a greater number of terminals on a given length of the strip than a fiat strip.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain nowv preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stock material for electrical terminal strips comprising a base strip in form of a continuous metal strip manually bendable to conform to a desired service shape but sufficiently rigid to hold its bent shape and easily severable in units of desired length, the said strip being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced indented strip portions for stiffening the said indented strip portions in comparison with the non-indented strip portions, each of said indented strip portions having a hole therethrough, and a plurality of terminals each including a sleeve shaped insulation member secured in one of said strip holes transversely thereto and a contact member fitted in the said insulation sleeve coaxially with the respective strip hole and electrically insulated from the base strip.

2. A stock material as defined in claim 1, wherein the said 1metal strip is coated with a coat of insulation materia 3. A stock material as defined in claim 1, wherein the isiaid 1inetal strip is made of aluminum having an anodized 4. A stock material as defined in claim 1, wherein the said insulation sleeve is transversely divided in two par-ts disposed on opposite sides of the respective strip portion and said contact member is in form of a metal sleeve joining said two parts of the insulation sleeve.

5. A stock material according to claim 1, wherein the said contact member is in form of a metal sleeve, one end of said sleeve being extended to form a tail for connecting a wire to the terminal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,748 Mills Sept. 19, 1905 914,327 Barbour Mar. 2, 1909 926,451 Addie June 29, 1909 1,316,001 Teachworth -1- Sept. 16, 1919 1,936,296 Fairbanks Nov. 21, 1933 2,260,459 Kilar Oct. 28, 1941 2,396,725 Thomas, Jr Mar. 19, 1946 (Other references on following page) 7 8 um'mn STATES PATENTS Nu Nama Data Numb Name Date" 2,641,741 Johanson- June. 9, 1953 gatberding Dec. 30, 192; FOREIGN PATENTS I 1 foster. Dec. 114, 1:9 5 Number b v ry Date 9 9? 1949 628,698 Great. Britain Sept; 27', 1 947 2,510,339? H5155 June 1950 3 0 Eran Oct, 14' 1947 2,624,775 Hughes Ian. 6, 1953 

